Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Department of
Agriculture Wood —
Forest
Service
Colors and Kinds
Agriculture
Handbook
Number 101
CONTENTS
October 1956
Approved for reprinting August 1981
1
HARDWOODS (Broad-Leaved Species)
Range.—American sycamore grows in scattered interlocking grain ranks high in its ability to with-
groups or singly from southern Maine westward stand splitting. Sycamore wood does not impart
to Nebraska and southward to eastern Texas and taste, odor, or stain to substances that come in
northern Florida. It grows best on flatlands where contact with it.
there is a good supply of ground water and along Uses.-The principal uses of American syca-
the edges of streams. lakes. and swamps. At least more are for lumber, veneer, railroad ties, cooper-
half of the stand of American sycamore is in the age, fence posts, and fuel. The lumber goes largely
central and southern portions of its range in into furniture and boxes. Considerable sycamore
Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, veneer is used for fruit and vegetable baskets and
Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. berry boxes. Although generally used for the
Properties.— In weight, American sycamore is cheaper grades of furniture, sycamore is used in
ranked as a moderately heavy wood, averaging one form or another in practically all grades. Other
34 pounds a cubic foot. A moderately hard wood, products made from the lumber include flooring,
with a specific gravity of 0.46, it has a close texture scientific instruments, handles, and butchers’
and an interlocking grain. It is moderately strong, blocks.
moderately stiff, and has moderately good shock Description.— Heartwood is reddish brown or
resistance. flesh brown in color. Pores are very small and not
Sycamore has large shrinkage while drying, is visible to the unaided eye. Rays are visible on all
inclined to warp, and is somewhat difficult to
season. Also, it is not durable when exposed to surfaces. They appear uniformly spaced on the
conditions favorable to decay. The wood turns end grain and of uniform height on quartersawed
well on a lathe and keeps its shape well when bent surfaces. Plainsawed surfaces show rays that
to form after steaming. It is only intermediate in appear more numerous and more closely spaced
nail-withdrawal resistance but because of its than in beech. (Illustration, p. 11.)
2
Rock elm (Ulmus thomasii)
Range.—Rock elm grows from New Hampshire Uses.—Elm lumber is used principally for
to Nebraska and as far south as Tennessee. containers and furniture. In some cases, the
Much of the commercially important rock elm is different species of elm are employed indiscrim-
located in Wisconsin and Michigan and more inately, but when hardness or shock resistance is
than 80 percent of rock elm lumber and veneer required to a high degree, rock elm is preferred.
comes from these 2 States. Rock elm veneer is used in considerable quantities
Properties.— Rock elm is a heavy wood, averag- in manufacturing various types of containers,
ing 44 pounds a cubic foot. The wood is clas- especially fruit and vegetable boxes and baskets.
sified as hard, with a specific gravity of 0.57. It Large quantities of rock elm also go into
is stronger, harder, and stiffer than any of the crating for heavy articles, such as furniture, glass,
other commercial elms. With the exception of and porcelain. The strength and toughness of
hickory and dogwood, rock elm has higher shock this wood make it very serviceable for certain
resistance than any other American hardwood. types of containers that must stand rough usage,
Although rock elm undergoes large shrinkage such as market baskets and bushel baskets for
when drying, it tends to shrink somewhat less home use. Considerable quantities are used in
than the other commercial elms. As with all the the manufacture of furniture, especially the bent
parts of chairs.
elms, care must be taken to prevent warp during
Description.— Heartwood is brown to dark
seasoning. Rock elm is somewhat difficult to brown, sometimes with shades of red. Summer-
work with hand or machine tools, and the heart- wood pores are arranged in concentric wavy lines
wood has low to moderate resistance to decay. that appear lighter than the background wood.
However, all the commercial elms have excellent The springwood pores in rock elm are visible
bending qualities. only upon magnification. (Illustration, p. 12.)
Range.—American elm grows throughout the Uses.—American elm lumber is used principally
eastern United States except in the Appalachian in the manufacture of containers, furniture, and
highlands and southern Florida. About three- dairy and poultry supplies. Because of its excel-
fourths of the stand of sawtimber size is located in lent bending properties, the wood has been much
the Lake States and the Mississippi Delta region. used for barrels and kegs. Considerable quan-
Wisconsin, Michigan, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ohio, tities of veneer go into the manufacture of fruit
and Indiana have large volumes of elm. and vegetable boxes and baskets. American elm
Properties.— American elm is moderately heavy, also is used a great deal for crating heavy articles,
averaging 35 pounds a cubic foot, and moderately such as furniture, glass, and porcelain products.
hard, with a specific gravity of 0.46. It rates as It is used in sizable quantities in the furniture
moderately weak, but is moderately stiff and has industry, particularly for the bent parts of chairs.
good shock resistance. Description.— Heartwood is brown to dark
The wood of American elm has large shrinkage brown, sometimes containing shades of red.
and care must be taken to prevent warping as it Although the summerwood pores are not visible
seasons. Like all of the commercial elms, it has as individuals, they are arranged in concentric
excellent bending qualities. Its heartwood has wavy lines within the boundaries of the growth
low to moderate resistance to decay. The wood
is slightly below average in woodworking proper- rings. The wavy lines appear lighter than the
ties, but is among the top woods in ease of gluing. background wood. American elm shows a spring-
In nail-withdrawal resistance, it has an inter- wood pore zone with a single row of large and
mediate rank. easily visible pores. (Illustration, p. 12.)
3
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Range.—Black walnut grows naturally over a Uses.—The outstanding use of black walnut is
large area extending from Vermont westward to for furniture. Large amounts are also used for
Nebraska and southward to southern Georgia and gunstocks and interior finish, while smaller quan-
southern Texas. The area of greatest commercial tities go into railroad tics, fence posts, and fuel-
production is limited to the central part of this wood. In the furniture industry, it is used either
as solid wood cut from lumber or as veneer and
natural range. plywood. It also is extremely popular for interior
Properties.—Black walnut is classified as a finish wherever striking effects are desired. The
heavy wood, averaging 38 pounds a cubic foot. wood of black walnut is particularly suitable for
The wood is hard, with a specific gravity of 0.51, gunstocks because of its ability to stay in shape
is strong and stiff, and has good shock resistance. after seasoning, its fine machining properties, and
Even under conditions favorable to decay, black its uniformity of texture.
walnut heartwood is one of our most durable Description.— Heartwood is chocolate brown
woods. It can be satisfactorily kiln-dried or air- and occasionally has darker, sometimes purplish,
dried, and holds its shape well after seasoning. streaks. Unless bleached or otherwise modified,
black walnut is not easily confused with any other
Black walnut works easily with handtools and has native species. Pores are barely visible on the end
excellent machining properties. The wood finishes grain but are quite easily seen as darker streaks
beautifully with a handsome grain pattern. It or grooves on longitudinal surfaces. Arrangement
takes and holds paints and stains exceptionally of pores is similar to that in the hickories and
well, can be readily polished, and can be satis- persimmon, but the pores are smaller in size.
factorily glued. (Illustration, p. 13.)
4
Hickory (Carya)
Species names.—True hickories: shagbark hick- Hickory has very large shrinkage and must
ory (Carya ovata), shellbark hickory (C. laciniosa), be carefully dried to avoid checking, warping,
pignut hickory (C. glabra), and mockernut hickory and other seasoning defects. It has low decay
(C. tomentosa) . resistance but can be glued satisfactorily.
Range.—The true hickories grow throughout Uses.—Nearly 80 percent of the true hickory
most of the eastern United States except in used in the manufacture of wood products goes
northern New England, the northern portions of into tool handles, for which its hardness, tough-
Michigan and Wisconsm, and southern Florida. ness, stiffness, and strength make it especially suit-
Close to 40 percent of the total stand of true able. Other uses include agricultural imple-
hickory is located in the lower Mississippi Valley ments, athletic goods, and lawn furniture.
region. Description.— Heartwood is brown to reddish
Properties.— The wood of the true hickories is brown. Pores are visibly, but the zone of large
very heavy, averaging from 42 to 52 pounds per pores is not sharply outlined as in oak and ash.
cubic foot, and very hard, with a specific gravity Pores grade in size from one side of the annual
ranging from 0.56 to 0.66. It also is very strong ring to the other. Wood rays are very small and
as a post or beam, very stiff, and exceedingly high seen without magnification only on quartersawed
in shock resistance. Some woods are stronger surfaces. Tyloses frequently plug the pores,
than hickory and others are harder, but the com- making their outlines indistinct. Under mag-
bination of strength, toughness, hardness, and nification, the end grain shows numerous white
stiffness possessed by hickory has not been found lines paralleling the growth ring. (Illustration,
to the same degree in any other commercial wood. p. 14.)
Range.—White ash grows throughout the entire and shovels. The wood is used too in the manu-
eastern half of the United States except along the facture of furniture, where it is especially valuable
Atlantic Coastal Plain, the gulf coast, and Florida. for the bent parts of chairs. Its good bending
It is cut commercially everywhere except in the qualities also make it useful for cooperage. White
extreme outer limits of this range and the lower ash is used almost exclusively for many types of
Mississippi Valley. sports and athletic equipment, such as long oars
Properties.— White ash is a heavy wood with and baseball bats.
an average weight of 42 pounds a cubic foot. Description.—Heartwood is brown to dark
Ranked as a hard wood, it has a specific gravity brown, sometimes with a reddish tint. As in
of 0.55. It also is classified as strong and stiff, black ash, the zone of large pores is visible and
and has good shock resistance. usually sharply defined. The white dots or lines
The wood of white ash is noted for its excellent that indicate summerwood pores are usually
bending qualities. In ease of working, tendency more prominent in white than in black ash.
to split, and ability to hold nails and screws, it The small wood rays are generally visible only
has moderately high rank. White ash lumber on quartersawed surfaces.
can be rapidly and satisfactorily kiln-dried, and White ash is sometimes confused with hickory,
it holds its shape well even under the action of but the two species are readily distinguishable.
water. The wood remains smooth under con- The zone of large pores is more distinctive in
tinual rubbing but is low in decay resistance. ash than in hickory. Also, the summerwood
Uses.—The use of white ash that dwarfs all zone in ash shows white dots or lines that are
others is its utilization for handles. It is the visible to the unaided eye, but in hickory these
standard wood for D-handles for shovels and dots or lines are visible only upon magnification.
spades and for long handles for forks, hoes, rakes, (Illustration, p. 14.)
5
Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Range.—Quaking aspen grows throughout most smooth surface. Aspen glues easily with a variety
of the northeastern and western United States. of glues and under a wide range of gluing condi-
The eastern part of its range extends from Maine tions. In painting properties, it ranks with the
southward to Tennessee and westward to the best of the hardwoods.
Dakotas. It is also found throughout the western Uses.—Aspen is used principally for lumber,
United States except in the extreme Southwest. paper pulp, excelsior, and matches. The largest
Commercial stands of aspen are located principally present-day use of the lumber is for boxes and
in the Lake States and the Northeast, with smaller crates. It is probably most heavily used for pulp-
amounts in the central Rocky Mountain region. wood, chiefly in the manufacture of book and
Properties.— One of the lightweight hardwoods, magazine paper and corrugating and insulating
quaking aspen averages 26 pounds a cubic foot. boards. Aspen has long been one of the preferred
The wood is classified as soft, with a specific grav- woods for the manufacture of high-grade excelsior.
ity of 0.35, and is weak, limber! and moderately Description.—Heartwood is white to very light
low in shock resistance. brown, with occasional brown streaks associated
Although aspen has moderately large shrinkage, with defects. Pores are very small and generally
it can be seasoned satisfactorily by air-drying or not visible to the unaided eye. Growth rings are
kiln-drying. In fact, few of the hardwoods shrink usually faint. Wood rays are small, uniform in
as little as aspen. The wood ranks low in decay height along the grain, and visible only on quarter-
resistance. It also is low in nail-withdrawal resist- sawed surfaces. Aspen is similar to cottonwood,
ance, but has little tendency to split under the but cottonwood tends to have barely visible pores.
action of nails or screws. It is worked easily with The growth rings in aspen are generally narrower
hand or power tools and is fairly easy to finish to a than those in cottonwood. (Illustration, p. 15.)
Range.— Basswood grows throughout the east- Uses.—Most of the basswood cut in this country
ern half of the United States from Maine westward is first made into lumber for a variety of items.
to North Dakota and southward to Florida and The largest amounts are used for crates and boxes.
eastern Texas. More than half of the total stand The manufacture of sash, doors, and general mill-
is located in the Lake States, and another quarter work also accounts for much of the basswood
is in the east central part of the range. lumber produced each year. In addition consider-
Properties.— Basswood is a lightweight hard- able lumber and veneer is used in the furniture
wood with an average weight of 26 pounds a cubic industry, especially as core material overlaid with
foot. The wood is weak, moderately stiff, and low high-grade furniture veneers, such as walnut and
in resistance to shock. Its specific gravity of 0.32 mahogany.
classes it as soft. Description.— Heartwood is creamy white to
Although it has large shrinkage, basswood is creamy brown or sometimes reddish. Pores are
fairly easy to air-dry or kiln-dry and stays in place very small, as in aspen, and growth rings on plain-
well after seasoning. It has low nail-withdrawal sawed surfaces are generally faint. Wood rays are
broader and higher than in aspen, and the two
resistance, but. well resists splitting while being species can be readily distinguished by comparing
nailed. In decay resistance, it is low. The wood their quartersawed faces. While the rays of aspen
is easy to work with tools, takes and holds paint are low and uniform in height, some of those in
well, and is easily-glued. When pulped by the soda basswood are distinctly higher than others and
process, basswood yields a soft, short-fibered, easily frequently darker than the background wood.
bleached pulp. (Illustration, p. 15.)
6
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Range.—Sweetgum grows from southwestern Sweetgum ranks above average in turning,
Connecticut westward almost to Kansas and boring, and steam-bending properties but some-
southward to eastern Texas and central Florida. what below average in the other machining prop-
The commercial range in the United States is erties. Its heartwood can be finished in a wide
confined largely to the moist lands of the lower variety of color effects and the sapwood can be
Ohio and Mississippi Basins and to the lowlands readily stained if a darker color is desired.
of the southeastern coast. Uses.-The principal uses of sweetgum are for
Properties.— Sweetgum is a moderately heavy lumber, veneer, plywood, and slack cooperage.
wood with an average weight of 36 pounds per The lumber goes principally into boxes and crates,
cubic foot. The wood is hard, with a specific furniture, interior trim, and millwork. Veneer is
gravity of 0.46, moderately strong when used as used mainly for boxes, crates, baskets, furniture,
a beam or post, moderately stiff, and has moder- and interior woodwork. Some sweetgum is used
ately high shock resistance. for crossties and fuel, and comparatively small
Sweetgum has very large shrinkage in drying, amounts go into fencing, excelsior, and pulpwood.
and the sapwood and heartwood require different Description.—Heartwood is reddish brown and
drying processes. The heartwood has low to occasionally variegated with streaks of darker
moderate decay resistance. In nail-holding ability color. Pores are so small that they are not
and in ability to resist splitting by nails and screws, visible except upon magnification. Growth rings
sweetgum is rated intermediate. The heartwood are usually indistinct or inconspicuous. Rays
requires special treatment before gluing can be are visible on quartersawed faces. (Illustration,
done with best results. p. 16.)
7
White oak (Quercus)
Species names.—The white oak group includes liquids. The heartwood itself is comparatively
white oak (Quercus alba), chestnut oak (Q. prinus), decay resistant, generally more so than that of
post oak (Q. stellata), overcup oak (Q. lyrata), the red oaks. White oaks are above average in
swamp chestnut oak (Q. michauxii), bur oak all machining operations except shaping.
(Q. macrocarpa), chinkapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii), Uses.—Most white oak is made into lumber
swamp white oak (Q. bicolor), and live oak for flooring, furniture, general millwork, and boxes
(Q. virginiana). and crates. Large amounts are used for flooring
Range.—White oaks grow mainly in the and furniture and it is the outstanding wood for
eastern half of the United States, although some tight barrels, kegs, and casks because of the
species are found as far west as eastern Oregon, nonporous heartwood. It has long been the
Washington, and California. Commercial white leading wood for the construction of ships and
oaks grow east of a line from western Minnesota boats.
to western Texas. Description.— Heartwood is grayish brown.
Properties.— The white oaks are heavy woods, The outlines of the larger pores are indistinct
averaging 47 pounds a cubic foot, and are very except in chestnut oak, which has open pores
hard, with a specific gravity ranging from 0.57 in with distinct outlines. On smooth-cut, end-grain
chestnut oak to 0.81 in live oak. Led by live surfaces, the summerwood pores are not distinct
oak, they rank high in strength properties. as individuals. Wood rays are generally higher
The wood of the white oaks is subject to large than in red oak, the larger ones ranging from ½ to
shrinkage and seasoning must be done carefully 5 inches in height along the grain. As in red
to avoid checking and warping. Pores of the oak, rays appear lighter in color than the back-
heartwood, with the exception of chestnut oak, ground wood on end-grain surfaces and darker
are usually plugged with tyloses, a frothlike than the background wood on side-grain surfaces.
growth that makes the wood impervious to (Illustration, p. 17.)
8
Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
Range.— Yellow birch grows in the Lake States, The lumber and veneer go mostly into furniture,
New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- boxes, baskets, crates, woodenware, interior finish,
vania, and along, the Appalachian Mountains into and general millwork. It is because of its pleasing
southern Georgia. It reaches its best development grain pattern and ability to take a high polish, that
near the Canadian border, and more than half of yellow birch is widely used in the furniture in-
the stand is located in Michigan. The largest dustry. Spools, bobbins, and other turned articles
amounts of lumber are produced in Michigan and are also important products.
Wisconsin. Yellow birch is one of the principal woods used
Properties.— Yellow birch is heavy, averaging for hardwood distillation to produce wood alcohol,
43 pounds a cubic foot, and hard, with specific acetate of lime, charcoal, tar, and oils. It is used
gravity averaging 0.55. The wood is strong, stiff, in smaller quantities for pulpwood and cooperage.
and has very high shock resistance. Description.— Yellow birch heartwood is light
reddish brown. Pores are very small, sometimes
Yellow birch has very large shrinkage and must
be seasoned carefully to prevent checking and just barely visible on smoothly cut end-grain
warping. Like all commercial birches, it is low in surfaces, and are uniformly distributed through
decay resistance. Although the wood is difficult the annual ring cross section. Pore lines are visible
on longitudinal surfaces as very fine grooves that
to work with handtools, it can be readily shaped by may even be seen through natural finishes. Wood
machine and ranks high in nail-withdrawal re- rays may be seen only on quartersawed surfaces,
sistance. where they appear to be of one size and of uniform
Uses.—Yellow birch is used principally for height along the grain. Growth rings are moder-
lumber, veneer, distilled products, and crossties. ately distinct on plainsawed surfaces. (Illustration,
p. 18.)
9
Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Range.-Yellow-poplar grows in all the States for taking and holding paint, enamel, and stain
east of the Mississippi River except Maine, New and can be glued satisfactorily. Yellow-poplar
Hampshire, Vermont, and Wisconsin, and in parts containers do not impart taste or odor to food-
of Oklahoma and Missouri. Virginia, North stuffs, and the wood can be easily pulped by the
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama chemical and semichemical processes.
contain more than half of the yellow-poplar saw- Uses.—The principal uses of yellow-poplar are
timber in the United States. for lumber, veneer, and pulpwood. The lumber
Properties.— Moderately light in weight, yel- goes mostly into furniture, boxes and crates,
low-poplar averages 30 pounds a cubic foot. The interior finish, siding, fixtures, and musical instru-
wood is classed as moderately soft, with a specific ments. The veneer is used extensively for finish,
gravity of 0.40, and is moderately low in bending furniture, and various forms of cabinetwork.
and compressive strength, moderately stiff, and Description.—Heartwood is brownish yellow,
moderately low in shock resistance. Although it usually with a definite greenish tinge. The wood
undergoes moderately large shrinkage when dried rays, as seen on a smoothly cut end-grain surface,
from a green condition, it is not difficult to season are somewhat more prominent than in cucumber-
and stays in place well when seasoned. The heart-
wood is low to moderate in resistance to decay. tree. Positive identification of yellow-poplar and
Yellow-poplar ranks intermediate in machining cucumbertree is best accomplished microscopically,
properties. Although low in nail-withdrawal but it is possible to separate them on the basis of
resistance, it has little tendency to split when gross features when both woods are at hand.
nailed. Also, the wood has an excellent reputation (Illustration, p. 19.)
Cottonwood (P o p u l u s)
Species names.—Eastern cottonwood (Populus warp is to be avoided. The heartwood has low
deltoides ), swamp cottonwood (P. heterophylla), decay resistance and the wood is rather difficult
and black cottonwood (P. trichocarpa). to work with tools without producing chipped or
Range.—Eastern and swamp cottonwood grow fuzzy grain. Cottonwood is low in nail-with-
in small scattered stands or in mixture with other drawal resistance but does not, split easily when
species. They range from southern New England nailed. The wood is classed among those that
westward to the southern part of the Lake States glue satisfactorily with moderate care. It has a
and southward to northern Florida and eastern good reputation for holding paint.
Texas, except in the Appalachian highlands from Uses.—A large proportion of the annual output
New York to Georgia and in the Ozark Mountains of cottonwood is cut into lumber and veneer and
of Arkansas and Missouri. Black cottonwood then remanufactured into containers and furniture.
grows in the Pacific Coast States and in western Both lumber and veneer are used in the furniture
Montana, northern Idaho, and western Nevada. industry for core material, which is overlaid with
Properties.— The cottonwoods are moderately high-grade furniture veneers.
light in weight, ranging from 24 to 28 pounds a Description.— Heartwood of all three cotton-
cubic foot. With a specific gravity of 0.37, wood species is grayish white to light grayish
eastern cottonwood is classified as moderately brown with occasional streaks of light brown.
soft, while black cottonwood’s specific gravity of The annual rings are rather wide. Pores are
0.32 classifies it as soft. The cottonwoods are barely visible on smooth cut, end-grain surfaces.
Aside from the color of the heartwood, cottonwood
moderately weak in bending and compression, is extremely similar to black willow. Separation
moderately limber, and moderately low in shock of the two species is based mainly on heartwood
resistance. color, which is light brown or reddish brown in
Moderately large shrinkage is a characteristic willow, or on microscopic examination if only
of cottonwood and it requires careful seasoning if sapwood material is available. (Illustration, p. 19.)
10
American beech American sycamore
11
Rock elm American elm
12
Black walnut Black cherry
13
True hickory White ash
14
Quaking aspen Basswood
15
Sweetgum Black tupelo
16
White oak Red oak
17
Yellow birch Sugar maple
18
Yellow-poplar Eastern cottonwood
19
Baldcypress Redwood
20
Incense-cedar Western redcedar
21
Sitka spruce Engelmann spruce
23
Sugar pine Western white pine
24
Western larch Douglas-fir
25
Western hemlock White fir
26
SOFTWOODS (Cone-Bearing Species)
Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)
Range.—Baldcypress grows along the Atlantic building construction, especially where decay
Coastal Plain from Delaware to Florida and west- resistance is required. It is frequently used for
ward along the gulf coast nearly to the Mexican posts, beams, and other members in warehouses,
border in Texas and up the Mississippi Valley to docks, factories, and bridges. Because of its high
southern Indiana. The heaviest stands occur in degree of resistance to decay, it is particularly
the swamps of the lower Mississippi Valley and valuable for greenhouses, stadium seats, cooling
Florida. towers, and roof planks of dye houses.
Properties.— Baldcypress is moderately heavy, Cypress is also used extensively for caskets and
with an average weight of 32 pounds a cubic foot, burial boxes and for sash, doors, blinds, interior
and moderately hard, with a specific gravity of trim and paneling, and general millwork. Con-
0.42. The wood is also moderately strong and tainers, such as boxes, crates, vats, tanks, and
moderately stiff. Its durability under conditions tubs, require considerable quantities.
favorable to decay is outstanding. Description.—Heartwood varies in color from
Since green baldcypress lumber contains con- pale brown to blackish brown and sometimes has
siderable moisture, it requires more care and time a reddish tinge. The wood is without resin canals,
to kiln-dry than many other softwoods. However, and transition from springwood to summerwood
the wood has moderately small shrinkage and is abrupt, as in redwood. Heartwood of darker
slow air-drying is successfully practiced. It does specimens generally has a more or less rancid odor
not impart taste, odor, or color to food products. and longitudinal surfaces feel distinctly greasy
Uses.—The principal use of baldcypress is in or waxy. (Illustration, p. 20.)
27
Incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens)
Range.—Incense-cedar grows from southwest- all the high-grade lumber is used in the manu-
ern Oregon southward through California in to facture of pencils and venetian blinds. Since
Mexico and Lower California, with some small most incense-cedar lumber is more or less pecky,
stands in western Nevada. Most of the com- it is used locally for rough construction. The
mercial cut is confined to the Sierra Nevada qualities of incense-cedar that adapt it particularly
Mountains in California and the mountain regions to pencil manufacture are straightness of grain,
of northern California and southern Oregon. softness, and ease of whittling. Its decay re-
Properties.— A lightweight wood, incense-cedar sistance makes it well suited for fence posts and
averages 26 pounds per cubic foot. The wood is crossties.
moderately soft, with a specific gravity of 0.35, Description.—Heartwood is reddish brown to
moderately weak, limber, and low in shock dull brown, with an occasional tinge of lavender.
resistance. Heartwood has a characteristic cedarlike odor
Incense-cedar has small shrinkage and is com- and acrid taste. Shavings placed on the tongue
paratively easy to season with little checking for a few seconds give a slight burning sensation.
or warping. It ranks among the most decay- Transition from springwood to summerwood is
resistant woods, along with cypress, redwood, and more or less abrupt and makes the growth rings
black locust. Also, the wood splits readily and prominent on flat-grained surfaces. It is easier
evenly. and is easy to work with tools. Incense- to produce a smooth cut on the end grain of
cedar is one of the woods that holds paint longest incense-cedar than on western redcedar. Al-
and suffers least when protection against weather- though incense-cedar and western redcednr cannot
ing becomes inadequate. always be separated with certainty on the basis
Uses.—The principal uses of incense-cedar of gross features, they can be readily distinguished
are for lumber, fence posts, and crossties. Nearly under the microscope. (Illustration, p. 21.)
Range.—Western redcedar grows in a belt along takes and holds paint very well and is exceptionally
the western coast of North America from southern weather resistant.
Alaska to northern California. From northern Uses.—The principal uses of western redcedar
Washington the range extends as far inland as are for shingles, lumber, poles, posts, and piling.
Montana and then spreads a limited distance The lumber goes largely into exterior siding for
north and south on the western slopes of the houses, interior finish, greenhouse construction,
Rocky Mountains. More than two-thirds of flumes, and structural timbers, with smaller
the stand of sawtimber is located in the coast amounts being used in the manufacture of ships
lowlands of Washington. and boats, caskets, boxes and crating, sash, doors,
Properties.— Western redcedar is light in weight, and general millwork. Round western redcedar
averaging 23 pounds a cubic foot. The wood is poles, most of which are treated with a preserva-
moderately soft, with a specific gravity of 0.31, tive, are shipped to all parts of the United States
weak as a beam or post, moderately limber, and for use as utility poles.
low in ability to resist shock. In decay resistance, Description.—Heartwood is reddish or pinkish
the heartwood ranks with the more durable woods. brown to dull brown. It has a characteristic
The wood of western redcedar is not difficult cedarlike odor, but shavings placed on the tongue
to kiIn-dry when proper methods are used, but do not give quite the sensation that incense-cedar
requires more care in seasoning than other western shavings do. Transition from springwood to
cedars. After it, has been properly dried, it stays summerwood is the same as in incense-cedar.
in place well and has little tendency to warp. The wood is sometimes confused with redwood, but
It is comparatively low in nail-withdrawal resist- the cedarlike odor of western redcedar separates
ance but can be easily glued. Western redcedar the two species immediately. (Illustration, p. 21.)
28
Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata)
Range.—Shortleaf pine, which has the widest Uses.—Shortleaf pine lumber is used prin-
distribution of the southern pines, grows through- cipally for building material such as interior finish,
out most of the southeastern United States. It is ceiling, frames, sash, sheathing, subflooring, and
generally a tree of the uplands and foothills, but joists, and for boxes and crates, caskets, furniture,
its range extends into the lower levels. Stands of woodenware, and novelties. Considerable use is
shortleaf pine are concentrated in Arkansas, but also made of shortleaf pine for crossties, telephone
Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi also and telegraph poles, and mine timbers. In addi-
contain large stands.
Properties.— Shortleaf pine, a moderately heavy tion, the resin-rich heartwood is distilled to make
wood but, ranking with the lightest of the im- wood turpentine, tar, and tar oils. Large amounts
portant southern pines, has an average weight of of this southern pine are used for paper pulp.
36 pounds a cubic foot. Typically, the wood is Description.— Heartwood ranges from shades
moderately hard, with a specific gravity of 0.46, of yellow and orange to reddish brown or light
moderately strong, stiff, and moderately shock brown. Transition from springwood to summer-
resistant. The heartwood is moderately decay wood is abrupt, with the annual rings prominent
resistant. on all surfaces. Resin canals are large and abund-
Like all southern pines, shortleaf has moderately ant and are easily found in all annual rings.
large shrinkage but tends to stay in place well
after seasoning. In nail-withdrawal resistance, it Summerwood bands are generally wider than
ranks above hemlock, spruce, and Douglas-fir. those of ponderosa pine. In appearance, the wood
And, like other southern pines, it produces a of shortleaf pine closely resembles that of long-
resinous substance from which turpentine and leaf, loblolly, and slash, the other principal
rosin can be made. southern pines. (Illustration, p. 22.)
Range.-Ponderosa pine grows in every State Uses.—Ponderosa pine is used principally for
west, of the Great Plains, with the largest stands lumber and, to a lesser extent, for piling, poles,
and greatest commercial production in California, posts, mine timbers, veneer, and hewn ties. The
Oregon, and Washington. The tree is found on a lumber has a variety of uses ranging from high-
wide variety of soils, sites, and elevations and grade millwork to boxes and crates. For cabinets
occurs both in pure stands and in mixture with and millwork, the clearer, softer material is used,
other species. Because it can maintain itself on while the manufacture of boxes and crates con-
dry sites, this tree is the principal species on areas sumes the lower grade lumber. Knotty ponderosa
pine has come into wide use as paneling for interior
of low rainfall. finish.
Properties.— The wood of Ponderosa pine varies Description.—Heartwood is yellowish to light red-
considerably in its properties. However, in the dish or orange brown. Transition from springwood
outer portions of trees of sawtimber size, it gen- to summerwood is abrupt as in the southern pines,
erally is moderately light in weight, averaging 28 but the summerwood bands are narrow. Growth
pounds per cubic foot, and moderately soft, with rings are generally most prominent on the flat-
a specific gravity of 0.38. This wood also ranks grained surfaces, which also frequently exhibit a
as moderately weak, moderately limber, and mod- dimpled appearance. This appearance is common in
erately low in shock resistance. It has moderately lodgepole pine too, but in lodgepole the dimples are
smaller and more abundant. The resin canals of
small shrinkage and little tendency to warp. ponderosa pine are abundant and easily found in
Ponderosa pine compares favorably with woods all annual rings. They are larger than those in
of similar density in nail-withdrawal resistance, is lodgepole pine, and the heartwood of lodgepole
not easily split by nails, and glues easily. The pine is lighter colored than that of ponderosa.
heartwood has low to moderate decay resistance. (Illustration, p. 22.)
29
Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Range.— Sitka spruce grows along the Pacific its long, strong fibers and the ease with which it
coast from Alaska to northern California. It can be pulped by any of the pulping processes.
is rarely found over 40 miles from the coast and Uses.—Sitka spruce is used principally for
generally grows in mixture with Douglas-fir, lumber, cooperage, and paper pulp. Some of the
grand fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar. lumber is used for construction just as it comes
It occasionally forms pure stands. from the sawmill, but the greater part is remanu-
Properties.— Sitka spruce is a moderately light- factured into various products. At least half of
weight wood, averaging 28 pounds a cubic foot. the remanufactured lumber goes into boxes and
The wood also is moderately soft, with a specific crates. The other major uses of the lumber are
gravity of 0.37, moderately weak in bending and for furniture, planing-mill products, sash, doors,
compressive strength, moderately stiff, and moder- blinds, and general millwork. Specialty uses in-
ately low in resistance to shock. On the basis clude aircraft, ladder rails, and piano sounding
of weight, however, it ranks high in strength boards.
properties. Description.— Heartwood is light pinkish yellow
Although the wood has moderately large to pale brown. Transition from springwood to
shrinkage, it is not difficult to kiln-dry. It works summerwood is gradual, making the annual rings
easily, holds fastenings well, and can be obtained appear rather inconspicuous on flat-grained sur-
in clear, straight-grained pieces of large size and faces. Resin canals are usually more prominent
than in the other spruces. On end-grain sur-
uniform texture with hardly any hidden defects.
faces, the canals appear as small dots or very
Its decay resistance is low. Although planed short lines that run parallel to the growth ring.
surfaces of Sitka spruce lumber may show a silky Flat-grained surfaces are lustrous and frequently
sheen, the wood has a tendency to produce wooly exhibit dimpling. The pinkish color of the heart-
or fuzzy grain under the action of planer knives. wood distinguishes this species from all other
As a pulpwood, Sitka spruce ranks high because of spruces. (Illustration, p. 23.)
30
Sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana)
Range.—Sugar pine grows from the Coast and Uses.—Sugar pine is used almost entirely for
Cascade Mountain Ranges of southern Oregon, lumber in buildings, boxes and crates, sash, doors,
along the Coast Range and the Sierra Nevada frames, general millwork, and foundry patterns.
of California, through southern California in It is suitable for all phases of house construction,
scattered stands, and into Mexico. The heaviest with the high-grade material going into interior
stands and largest trees are found in California and exterior trim, siding, and paneling, while the
from Tulare to Eldorado Counties, in cool, moist lower grade material is used for sheathing, sub-
flooring, and roof boards.
sites on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada at The wood also has proved very satisfactory for
elevations of 4,000 to 7,000 feet. containers because of its light weight and color,
Properties.— Sugar pine is lightweight, averag- nailing properties, and freedom from taste and
ing 25 pounds a cubic foot. The wood is moder- odor. Sugar pine is widely used for foundry
ately soft, with a specific gravity of 0.35, moder- patterns because it meets the exacting require-
ately limber, moderately weak, and low in shock ments and is readily available in wide, thick
resistance. pieces practically free from defects.
Description.— Heartwood is light brown to pale
In decay resistance, sugar pine heartwood is
reddish brown. Resin canals are abundant and
rated low to moderate. The wood has very small commonly stain the surface of the wood with
shrinkage, seasons readily without checking or resin. Transition from springwood to summer-
warping, and stays in place well. It is easy to wood is gradual; making the growth rings appear
work with tools, does not split easily in nailing, less prominent on flat-grained surfaces. (Illustra-
and has moderate nail-withdrawal resistance. tion, p. 24.)
31
Western larch (Larix occidentalis)
Range.—Western larch grows in mountain high in nail-withdrawal resistance, small or blunt-
valleys and on slopes at elevations of 2,000 to pointed nails are preferred to reduce splitting.
7,000 feet in Washington, Oregon, western Mon- Uses.—Western larch is used principally in
tana, and northern Idaho. It reaches its best building construction as rough dimension, small
development and greatest commercial importance timbers, planks, and boards. Considerable
in northern Idaho and western Montana, where it amounts also are made into crossties and mine
is generally associated with other species, although timbers. Probably three-fourths of the lumber
sometimes forming pure forests of limited extent. produced is used for structural purposes as it
Properties.— A heavy wood, western larch has comes from the sawmill. Some of the high-grade
an average weight of 38 pounds per cubic foot. lumber is remanufactured into interior finish,
Also, it is moderately hard, with a specific gravity flooring, sash, doors, blinds, and other products.
of 0.51, stiff, strong, and moderately high in Description.—Heartwood is russet brown and
shock resistance. the color is best seen in summerwood bands on
Western larch and Douglas-fir are frequently flat-grained surfaces. Resin canals are present,
but are very small and difficult to find unless the
logged together and sold in mixture under the resin has stained the wood surfaces or the exuda-
commercial name of “larch-fir.” Heartwood of tion actually appears as very small droplets.
both species is moderately decay resistant. West- Transition from springwood to summerwood is
ern larch has large shrinkage in drying and presents abrupt and there is little difference in color be-
seasoning problems because of the slowness with tween the two zones. The heartwood lacks a
which it gives up its moisture. Although it ranks distinctive odor. (Illustration, p. 25.)
32
Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)
Range.—Western hemlock grows along the Pa- ping papers, and viscose and other cellulose deriva-
cific coast from Alaska to San Francisco Bay, and tives. Although little western hemlock goes into
as far inland as northern Idaho and northwestern heavy structural material, large quantities are
Montana. The best stands are found in the humid used for sheathing, siding, subflooring, joists, stud-
coastal regions of Oregon, Washington, and Alaska ding, planking, and rafters in light frame con-
and on the lower slopes of the Cascade Mountains struction.
in Washington and Oregon. Description.—Heartwood of western hemlock is
Properties.— Western hemlock is moderately light reddish brown and frequently has a purplish
light in weight, averaging 29 pounds a cubic foot, cast, especially in the summerwood bands. Tran-
and moderately hard, with a specific gravity of sition from springwood to summerwood is gradual
0.38. It is also moderately weak and its shock re- and on end-grain surfaces there is little color con-
sistance is fairly low. Although western hemlock trast between the two zones. The wood lacks
has moderately large shrinkage, it is comparatively normal resin canals.
easy to season. Heartwood is low in decay resist- Eastern hemlock heartwood is more roseate in
ance but the wood is easy to work with tools and color than western hemlock and the transition from
has satisfactory gluing properties. Excellent for springwood to summerwood is so abrupt that the
papermaking, it yields a tough, strong, and easily two zones stand out distinctly. The coarser tex-
bleached pulp. ture of eastern hemlock springwood tends to tear
out in crosscut sawing and to produce a ribbed ap-
Uses.—Western hemlock is used primarily for pearance on the end grain. A smooth cut is diffi-
pulpwood and construction lumber and, to a cult to make on the end grain of eastern hemlock,
limited extent, for containers, plywood core stock, even with a very sharp knife, while western hem-
crossties, and mine timbers. The pulp is used for lock cuts very easily and produces smooth surfaces.
newsprint and other printing paper, tissues, wrap- (Illustration, p. 26.)
33
GLOSSARY
Annual growth ring.—The growth layer put on in a single Dry kiln.-(See Kiln.)
growth year, including springwood and summerwood. Dry rot.-A term loosely applied to any dry, crumbly rot
Bark.— Outer layer of a tree, comprising the inner bark, but especially to that which, when in an advanced
or thin, inner living part (phloem) and the outer stage, permits the wood to be crushed easily to a dry
bark, or corky layer, composed of dry, dead tissue. powder. The term is actually a misnomer, since all
Beam.—A structural member supporting a load applied wood-rotting fungi require considerable moisture
transversely to it. for growth.
Bending, steam.—The process of forming curved wood Early wood.—(See Springwood.)
members by steaming or boiling the wood and bending Edge-grained.—(See Grain.)
it to a form. Extractives.— Substances in wood, not an integral part of
Bird’s-eye.— Small localized areas in wood with the fibers the cellular structure, that can be removed by solution
indented and otherwise contorted to form few to in hot or cold water, ether, benzene, or other solvents
many small circular or elliptical figures remotely that do not react chemically with wood components.
resembling birds’ eyes on the tangential surface. Fiber, wood.—A comparatively long (one twenty-fifth or
Common in sugar maple and used for decorative less to one-third inch), narrow, tapering wood cell
purposes: rare in other hardwood species. closed at both ends.
Bow.-The distortion in a board that deviates from flat- Figure.— The pattern produced in a wood surface by annual
ness lengthwise but not across its faces. growth rings, rays, knots, deviations from regular
Broad-leaved trees.—(See Hardwoods.) grain such as interlocked and wavy grain, and irregular
Cambium.—The one-cell-thick layer of tissue between the coloration.
bark and wood that repeatedly subdivides to form Finish.— Wood products to be used in the joiner work,
new wood and bark cells. such as doors and stairs, and other fine work required
Cell.—A general term for the minute units of wood to complete a building, especially the interior.
structure, including wood fibers, vessels members, Flakes.—(See Rays, wood.)
and other elements of diverse structure and function. Flat-grained.—(See Grain.)
Check.— A lengthwise separation of the wood, usually Framing.— Lumber used for the structural members of a
extending across the rings of annual growth and building, such as studs and joists.
commonly resulting from stresses set up in the wood Girder.— A large or principal beam used to support con-
during seasoning.
centrated loads at points along its length.
Collapse.—The flattening of groups of cells in heartwood
during the drying or pressure treatment of wood, Grade.-The designation of quality of a manufactured
characterized by a caved-in or corrugated appearance. piece of wood or of logs.
Crook.—The distortion in a board that deviates edgewise Grain.—The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or
from a straight line from end to end of the board. quality of the elements in wood or lumber. To have a
Cup.—The distortion in a board that deviates flatwise specific meaning the term must be qualified.
from a straight line across the width of the board. Close-grained wood.—Wood with narrow, inconspicuous
Decay.— The decomposition of wood substance by fungi. annual rings. The term is sometimes used to desig-
Advanced (or typical) decay.-The older stage of decay nate wood having small and closely spaced pores, but
in which the destruction is readily recognized because in this sense the term “fine textured” is more often
the wood has become punky, soft and spongy, stringy, used.
ringshaked, pitted, or crumbly. Decided discolora- Coarse-grained wood.—Wood with wide conspicuous
tion or bleaching of the rotted wood is often apparent. annual rings in which there is considerable difference
Incipient decay.—The early stage of decay that has between springwood and summerwood. The term is
not proceeded far enough to soften or otherwise sometimes used to designate wood with large pores,
perceptibly impair the hardness of the wood. It is such as oak, ash, chestnut, and walnut, but in this
usually accompanied by a slight discoloration or sense the term “coarse textured” is more often used.
bleaching of the wood. Cross-grained wood.—Wood in which the fibers deviate
Density.— The weight of a body per unit volume. When from a line parallel to the sides of the piece. Cross
expressed in the c. g. s. (centimeter-gram-second) grain may be either diagonal or spiral grain, or a
system, it is numerically equal to the specific gravity combination of the two.
of the same substance. Curly-grained wood.—Wood in which the fibers are
Diffuse-porous wood.—Certain hardwoods in which the distorted so that they have a curled appearance, as
pores tend to be uniform in size and distribution in “bird’s-eye” wood. The areas showing curly grain
throughout each annual ring or to decrease in size may vary up to several inches in diameter.
slightly and gradually toward the outer border of the Diagonal-grained wood.—Wood in which the annual
ring. rings are at an angle with the axis of a piece as a
Dimension.— (See Lumber.) result of sawing at an angle with the bark of the tree
Dimension stock.—A term largely superseded by the term or log. A form of cross grain.
hardwood dimension lumber. It is hardwood stock Edge-grained lumber.—Lumber that has been sawed so
processed to a point where the maximum waste is that the wide surfaces extend approximately at right
left at a dimension mill, and the maximum utility is angles to the annual growth rings. Lumber is con-
delivered to the user. It is stock of specified thickness, sidered edge grained when the rings form an angle of
width, and length, in multiples thereof. According to 45° to 90° with the wide surface of the piece.
specification, it may be solid or glued; rough or sur- Fine-grained wood.—(See Grain, close-grained wood.)
faced; semifabricated or completely fabricated. Flat-grained lumber.—Lumber that has been sawed so
Dimensional stabilization.—Reduction through special the wide surfaces extend approximately parallel to the
treatment in swelling and shrinking of wood, caused annual growth rings. Lumber is considered flat
by changes in its moisture content with changes in grained when the annual growth rings make an angle
relative humidity. of less than 45° with the surface of the piece.
34
Grain—Continued Medullary rays.—(See Rays, wood.)
Interlocked-arained wood.—Wood in which the fibers are Millwork.— Generally, all building materials made of
inclined in one direction in a number of rings of annual finished wood and manufactured in millwork plants
growth, then gradually reverse and are inclined in an and planing mills. Includes such items as inside
opposite direction in succeeding growth rings, then and outside doors, window and door frames, blinds,
reverse again. porch work, mantels, panel work, stairways, moldings,
Open-grained wood.—Common classification by painters and interior trim. Does not include flooring, ceiling,
for woods with large pores, such as oak, ash, chestnut, or siding.
and walnut. Also known as “coarse textured.” Moisture content of wood.—The amount of water contained
Plainsawed lumber.—Another term for flat-grained in the wood. Usually expressed as a percentage of
lumber. the weight of the ovendry wood.
Quartersawed lumber.—Another term for edge-grained Naval stores.—A term applied to the oils, resins, tars, and
lumber. pitches derived from oleoresin contained in, exuded by,
Spiral-grained wood.—Wood in which the fibers take a or extracted from trees chiefly of the pine species
spiral course about the trunk of a tree instead of the (genus Pinus) or from the wood of such trees.
normal vertical course. The spiral may extend in a Old growth.—Timber growing in or harvested from a
right-handed or left-handed direction around the tree mature, naturally established forest. When the trees
trunk. Spiral grain is a form of cross grain. have grown most or all of their individual lives in
Straight-grained wood.—Wood in which the fibers run active competition with their companions for sun-
parallel to the axis of a piece. light and moisture, this timber is usually straight
Vertical-grained lumber.—Another term for edge-grained and relatively free of knots.
lumber. Ovendry wood. Wood dried to constant weight in an
Wavy-grained wood.—Wood in which the fibers collec- oven at temperatures above that of boiling water
tively take the form of waves or undulations. (usually 101° to 105° C. or 214° to 221° F.).
Green.—Freshly sawed lumber, or lumber that has received Peck.— Pockets or areas of disintegrated wood caused by
no intentional drying; unseasoned. The term does advanced stages of localized decay in the living tree.
not apply to lumber that may have become completely It is usually associated with cypress and incense-
wet through waterlogging. cedar. There is no further development of peck
Hardwoods.— Generally, the botanical group of trees that once the lumber is seasoned.
have broad leaves, in contrast to the conifers or soft- Pitch pocket.—An opening that extends parallel to the
woods. The term has no reference to the actual annual growth rings and that contains, or has con-
hardness of the wood. tained, either solid or liquid pitch.
Heartwood.— The wood extending from the pith to the Pitch streak.—A well-defined accumulation of pitch in a
sapwood, the cells of which no longer participate in more or less regular streak in the wood of certain
the life processes of the tree. Heartwood may be softwoods.
infiltrated with gums, resins, and other materials that Pith.— The small, soft core occurring in the structural
usually make it darker and more decay resistant than center of a tree trunk, branch, twig, or log.
sapwood. Plainsawed.— (See Grain.)
Honeycombing.—Checks, often not visible at the surface, Planing-mill products.—Products worked to pattern, such
that occur in the interior of a piece of wood, usually as flooring, ceiling, and siding.
along the wood rays. Plywood.— An assembly made of layers (plies) of veneer, or
Joint.—The junction of two pieces of wood or veneer. of veneer in combination with a lumber core, joined
Joist.—One of a series of parallel beams used to support with an adhesive. The grain of adjoining plies is
floor and ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger usually laid at right angles, and almost always an odd
beams, girders,-or bearing walls. number of plies are used to obtain balanced con-
Kiln.— A heated chamber for drying lumber, veneer, and struction.
other wood products. Pore.—(See Vessels.)
Knot.—That portion of a branch or limb which has been Porous woods.—Another name for hardwoods, which fre-
surrounded by subsequent growth of the wood of the quently have vessels or pores large enough to be seen
trunk or other portion of the tree. As a knot appears readily without magnification.
on the sawed surface, it is merely a section of the Preservative.— Any substance that is effective, for a reason-
entire knot, its shape depending upon the direction able length of time, in preventing the development
of the cut. and action of wood-rotting fungi, borers of various
Longitudinal.— Generally, the direction along the length kinds, and harmful insects that deteriorate wood.
of the grain of wood. Quartersawed.— (See Grain.)
Lumber.— The product of the saw and planing mill, not Radial.— Coincident with a radius from the axis of the tree
further manufactured than by sawing, resawing, pass- or log to the circumference. A radial section is a
ing lengthwise through a standard planing machine, lengthwise section in a plane that extends from pith
cross-cutting to length, and matching. to bark.
Boards.— Yard lumber less than 2 inches thick and 1 Rate of growth.—The rate at which a tree has laid on wood.
or more inches wide. measured radially in the trunk or in lumber cut from
Dimension.—Lumber from 2 inches to, but not including the trunk. The unit of measure in use is number of
5 inches thick, and 2 or more inches wide. annual growth rings per inch.
Dressed size.—The dimensions of lumber after shrinking Rays, wood—Strips of cells extending radially within a tree
from the green dimensions and being surfaced with and varying in height from a few cells in some species
a planing machine to usually 3 /8 or ½ inch less than to 4 or more inches in oak. The rays serve primarily
the nominal or rough size. For example, a 2- by to store food and transport it horizontally in the tree.
4-inch stud actually measures 1 5 /8 by 3 5 /8 inches under
American lumber standards for softwood lumber. Resin passage (or duct) .—Intercellular passages that con-
Nominal size.—As applied to timber or lumber, the tain and transmit resinous materials. On a cut sur-
rough-sawed commercial size by which it is known face, they are usually inconspicuous. They may ex-
and-sold in the market. tend vertically parallel to the axis of the tree or at
Structural lumber.—Lumber that is 2 or more inches right angles to the axis and parallel to the rays.
thick and 4 or more inches wide. intended for use Ring-porous woods.—A group of hardwoods in which the
where working stresses are required. The grading of pores are comparatively large at the beginning of each
structural lumber is based on the strength of the annual ring and decrease in size more or less abruptly
piece and the use of the entire piece. toward the outer portion of the ring, thus forming a
Timbers.—Lumber 5 or more inches in least dimension. distinct inner zone of pores, known as the springwood,
Timbers may be classified as beams, stringers, posts, and an outer zone with smaller pores, known as the
caps, sills, girders, purlins, etc. summerwood.
35
Sap.—All the fluids in a tree except special secretions and Texture.— A term often used interchangeably with grain.
excretions, such as oleoresin. Sometimes used to combine the concepts of density
Sapwood.— The living wood of pale color near the outside and degree of contrast between springwood and
of the log. Under most conditions the sapwood is summerwood. In this publication, texture refers to
more susceptible to decay than heartwood. the finer structure of the wood (see Grain) rather than
Seasoning.— Removing moisture from green wood in order the annual rings.
to improve its serviceability. Twist.— A distortion caused by the turning or winding
Air-dried.— Dried by exposure to air, usually in a yard, of the edges of a board so that the four corners of
without artificial heat. any face are no longer in the same plane.
Kiln-dried.— Dried in a kiln with the use of artificial heat.
Second growth.—Timber that has grown after removal by Tyloses.— Masses of cells appearing somewhat like froth
cutting, fire, wind, or other agency, of all or a large in the pores of some hardwoods, notably white oak
part of the previous stand. and black locust. In hardwoods, tyloses are formed
Sheathing.— The structural covering, usually of boards or when walls of living cells surrounding vessels extend
fiberboards, placed over exterior studding or rafters of into the vessels. They are sometimes formed in
a structure. softwoods in a similar manner by the extension of
Softwoods.—Generally, the botanical group of trees that cell walls into resin-passage cavities.
bear cones and in most cases have needlelike or scale- Veneer.—A thin layer or sheet of wood cut on a veneer
like leaves; also the wood produced by such trees. T h e machine.
term has no reference to the actual hardness of the Rotary-cut veneer.—Veneer cut in a lathe which rotates
wood. a log or bolt, chucked in the center, against a knife.
Specific gravity.—The radio of the weight of a body to Sawed veneer.—Veneer produced by sawing.
the weight of an equal volume of water at 4° C. or Sliced veneer.—Veneer that is sliced off a log, bolt, or
other specified temperature. flitch with a knife.
Springwood.— The portion of the annual growth ring that Vertical grain.—(See Grain.)
is formed during the early part of the season’s growth. Vessels.—Wood cells of comparatively large diameter
In most softwoods and in ring-porous hardwoods, it that have open ends and are set one above the other
is less dense and weaker mechanically than so as to form continuous tubes. The openings of the
summerwood. vessels on the surface of a piece of wood are usually
Stain.— A discoloration in wood that may be caused by referred to as pores.
such diverse agencies as micro-organisms, metal, or
chemicals. The term also applies to materials used Virgin growth.—The original growth of mature trees.
to color wood. Wane.—Bark or lack of wood from any cause on the
Strength.— The term in its broader sense includes all the edge or corner of a piece of lumber.
properties of wood that enable it to resist different Warp.— Any variation from a true or plane surface.
forces or loads. In its more restricted sense, strength Warp includes bow, crook, cup, and twist, or any
may apply to any one of the mechanical properties, combination thereof.
in which event the name of the property under con- Weathering.— The mechanical or chemical disintegration
sideration should be stated. thus: strength in com- and discoloration of the surface of wood that is
pression parallel to grain, strength in bending, hard- caused by exposure to light, the action of dust and
ness, and so on. sand carried by winds, and the alternate shrinking
Stess.—Force per unit of area. and swelling of the surface fibers with the continual
Stud.— One of a series of slender wood structural members variation in moisture content brought by changes in
used as supporting elements in walls and partitions. the weather. Weathering does not include decay.
Summerwood.—The portion of the annual growth ring
that is formed after the springwood formation has Wood substance.—The solid material of which wood is
ceased. In most softwoods and in ring-porous hard- composed. It usually refers to the extractive-free
woods, it is denser and stronger mechanically than solid substance of which the cell walls are composed,
springwood. but this is not always true. There is no wide varia-
Tangential.— Strictly, coincident with a tangent at the tion in chemical composition or specific gravity
circumference of a tree or log, or parallel to such a between the mood substance of various species; the
tangent. In practice, however, it often means characteristic differences of species are largely due to
roughly coincident with a growth ring. A tangential differences in infiltrated materials and variations in
section is a longitudinal section through a tree or relative amounts of cell walls and cell cavities.
limb and is perpendicular to a radius. Flat-grained Workability.— The degree of ease and smoothness of cut
and plainsawed lumber is sawed tengentially. obtainable with hand or machine tools.
36